View full sizeCourtesy of Lori RuhlmanLili Winkleman (yellow sweatshirt) helps her mom, Cristy Winkleman, show some of the waste-free products that were on sale through Jan. 20 as a part of a fundraiser.

The following was submitted by Lori Ruhlman, of Skaneateles schools.

Elementary pupils at Waterman and State Street Schools in Skaneateles learned recently that an average student creates 45 to 90 pounds of trash a year by taking lunch to school each day.

At a Waterman morning meeting, three pupils dumped trash from a backpack all over the gym floor to show the kind of waste that is produced every day at lunch. Out came Ziploc bags, foil, packaging and plastic bottles.

Members of the Skaneateles Elementary PTC Eco Team urged children to be kind to the earth and to help make that change. They kicked off a waste-free fundraiser to help in an effort to create zero trash.

"Did you know that children's lunches create more than 3.5 billion pounds of trash a year?" Jessica Cogan Millman, Eco Team member and parent, asked the elementary students. "It is hard to imagine 3.5 billion pounds," she said.

Millman reminded students of the Eco Team's Zero Trash Day, held at both elementary schools last year.

Eco Team member and parent Annette Matthews turned to a huge banner on the wall to illustrate how trash adds up.

"At State Street last year, in one day we threw away 64 pounds of trash. That is equivalent to one golden retriever, 27,000 jellybeans or one State Street student, " she said. "On Zero Trash Day we reduced our trash by 15 pounds. We did this by bringing in cloth napkins, reusable silverware and reusable lunch bags and containers."

Parent and Eco Team member Cristy Winkleman told children they can "help reduce our trash and help Planet Earth" by using products that are re-usable. With the help of her daughter, Lili Winkleman, she showed lunch pouches, a thermos, a water bottle and stainless steel containers of varying sizes that can be used and reused.

"The PTC is selling these products as a fundraiser, so we can save the Earth and help pay for PTC events like Vitamin L," Winkleman said.

Fliers were sent home with students from both schools Friday.

"I think the waste-free lunch container fundraiser will be extremely successful," Millman said Monday. "We've had amazing feedback because parents are looking for eco-friendly options for packaging their kids' lunches."

She pointed out that although the sale is targeted at the elementary schools, the items "are suitable for anyone."

Forms are available at Waterman School. In addition, anyone who is interested but did not receive forms can email Millman at jessicacogan@yahoo.com. To see the products, go to kidskonserve.com.

Millman said the team looked into a couple of different companies before choosing Kids Konserve.

"I already own eco-friendly containers and this is one of my favorites. We liked the large variety offered and the fact they included water bottles."